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Plato on Pop

Hollywood writer Eric Kaplan, known for his work on "The Big Bang Theory," has a book that (it's been said) uses philosophy to hilariously examine the question of Santa's existence. Unfortunately, it's ultimately just a thinly veiled attempt to argue for God's existence and his variety of Jewish Mysticism.

Perhaps surprisingly, Adam Smith does not recommend the pursuit of fame and fortune. Instead, he says that we naturally desire to be loved and to be lovely. Happiness requires being worthy of respect and esteem.

Loathing is closely tied to feelings of disgust or annoyance, and it does not necessarily involve resentment. Additionally, loathing seems to be triggered by direct stimulation whereas hatred can persist without direct stimulation. There’s a subjective and irrational element to loathing. So what’s the solution? Tolerance? Loathe and let loathe?

Essentially what meditation delivers is the ability to respond rather than react. It provides a fraction of a second delay, just enough time to reconsider whether I really want to do or say what the voice in my head is urging. It’s the mental equivalent of the seven-second delay that awards shows use to guard against profanity-laced rants by Kanye West and his ilk.

Chua and Rubenfeld argue that a triple-package culture, characterized by a superiority complex, a sense of insecurity, and impulse control, leads to success. That may be, but Nietzsche shows us that it's an even better explanation of individual success.

When Mr. Hoffman took heroin for the first time in 23 years he was, in effect, playing Russian roulette. No amount of time away from the addictive substance is enough to erase the addiction. Addiction can be treated but it cannot be cured. It’s not okay to have a relapse, but if you have a relapse it’s okay to come back into recovery.

American Atheists erected an "anti-prayer" billboard adjacent to this year's Super Bowl stadium. Will this dissuade the half of Americans who believe that the supernatural plays a roll in determining the outcome of sporting events, like the Super Bowl? Should Christians themselves be criticizing the idea that God plays a roll in determining the outcome of sporting events?

Snake handlers are following verses that were not in the original version of the Gospel of Mark. Scholars reason that Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances were added in Mark 16: 9-20 because second-century scribes were uncomfortable with the Gospel ending without them. But I say that kind of discomfort is good for faith because it introduces an element of the absurd.

“Santa just is white" said Fox News' Megyn Kelly, and all hell broke lose. But what she right? Since Santa is not real, this turns out to be a philosophical question--and it's not one that is easy to answer.

'Tis the season...for my inbox to fill up with hate mail regarding my stance on whether or not parents should tell the Santa Claus lie. Let's deal with the most common objections to my argument that parents should not encourage their children to believe that Santa Claus literally exists.

Black Sabbath and philosophy are the best combination since peanut butter and chocolate. When Ozzy wails “dying is easy it’s living that’s hard” over Iommi’s surreal, bluesy riff you know it’s true. And you know in a flash what existentialism is in a way you never could by reading Sartre.

In Star Trek: Into Darkness, The Enterprise crew struggles to decide what is morally right and wrong. How can philosophy shed light on their questions, and the moral questions that we face in our own lives?

Most parents feel a bit guilty for lying to their children for about Santa Claus. But most find solace in the idea that belief in Santa Claus encourages imagination in children. It doesn't. In fact, it discourages.

No other genre of popular music inspires the level of devotion that heavy metal does. And there’s a reason for that. Metal isn’t just music. For many fans it’s a religion, a way of life, a philosophy, if you will.

The secret of Black Sabbath’s sound is the tritone, also known as the Devil’s Interval or diabolus in musica. But musical convention may have more to do with the sonic effect than anything Satan could claim credit for.

Black Sabbath illustrates that when it comes to creativity, the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts. The band needs to come to terms with their unorthodox drummer or fans will taste something essential missing from Sabbath’s stew.

Sabbath’s lyrics are rarely black and white. They are rich, suggestive, and ambiguous, often undercutting one message with its opposite. So we can expect that the song “God is Dead” will not be a mindless, blasphemous romp. More likely, it will lament the loss of God and invoke his return.